Mexican Stuffed Shells
Posted: January 28, 2014 Filed under: All, Appetizers, Beef, Chicken, Dinner, Main, Meatless, Mexican Inspired, Pasta, Uncategorized, Wine | Tags: Beaujolais, Cream cheese, Ground beef, Jumbo pasta shells, Malbec, Merlot, Mexican Blend Seasoning, Monterey Jack cheese, Salsa, Syrah / Shiraz, Taco Sauce, Zinfandel Leave a commentI decided to try something a little different for Taco Tuesday, combining my love for Mexican and Italian food. Seriously, what is not to love about this concept? Rich spicy flavor in the meat and sauce. Stuffed into pasta. Let me say that again for affect, stuffed INTO pasta. The spicy gooyness of the meat, stuffed into the delicate pasta shell. This truly seems like a dish that was invented for me! And I welcomed it with open arms!
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef (or any meat of your choosing, can even go with something similar to soyrizo for vegetarians)
4 Tbs Morton & Basset Mexican Blend seasoning (this is truly my Go-To Mexican flavor. Do not waste your time with taco seasoning packets.)
1/2 cup cream cheese (I used plain, but you could play around with this and use flavored cream cheese, such as sun-dried tomato, garlic and herb, maybe even a garden vegetable)
14-16 jumbo pasta shells
1 1/2 cup salsa (I always use fresh whenever I can and the deli section of my local market helps me achieve that)
1 cup taco sauce (this will be a smooth, tomato based sauce with varying degrees of heat, found in the Mexican section)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
*Additional toppings such as sliced green onions, tomatoes, lettuce, olives, and / or sour cream (this is the chance to get creative, even add jalapeños!)
Preparation:
Start large pot of water to boil. In frying pan, brown meat, add the Mexican Blend seasoning and 1 ¹⁄³ cups of water. Let the water cook down by about half. Add cream cheese and simmer until cheese has melted, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool. While meat is cooking, add pasta shells to water and cook according to package directions. Drain pasta shells and set out individually on flat surface so they don’t stick together.
Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Pour salsa on bottom of dish. Stuff each shell with the meat mixture and place open side up in baking dish. Cover shells with taco sauce. Cover dish with foil and back for 30 minutes. Remove foil and add shredded cheese; bake for 10-15 more minutes until cheese is golden brown.
Wine Pairing Suggestions:
Beaujolais
Malbec
Merlot
Syrah / Shiraz
Zinfandel
Serves 4
Total time: About an hour
*Derived from The Way to His Heart
Layered Beef Enchiladas
Posted: September 24, 2013 Filed under: All, Beef, Dinner, Main, Mexican Inspired, Uncategorized, Wine | Tags: Beef, Cabernet Franc, Chianti, Enchilada, Enchilada Sauce, Grenache, lean ground beef, Merlot, Mexico, Sangiovese, Sour cream, Tortilla, Zinfandel Leave a commentSometimes it can really be tough to cook food for someone from their native country. The flavors and texture have to be what they are used to, what they grew up with. For a lot of people, food has so much meaning and can transport them back to their childhood, which for me personally, is my goal. And I want to create those memories for my kids. It does not, however, always work. I thought this dish was good, maybe not the absolute best I’ve ever done (after all, it’s not salmon) but certainly good. My littlest foodies thought it was too spicy. The Hubs didn’t like it at all. Wouldn’t even eat it. He and the kids had quesadillas. And I get it, he’s from Mexico and this was enchilada sauce from a can. I’m sure, compared to home cooking, well, I’m sure there IS no comparison. Suffice it to say, no memories were created and no one was transported back to their childhood. And me? I’m now on the hunt for a quick, yet simple, enchilada sauce I can make and use during the week that will hold up to the memory. Or will make some new ones.
Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbs Morton & Bassett Mexican Blend seasoning
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 (10 oz) cans preferred enchilada sauce
10 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
Sour cream (optional)
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 375. In large nonstick skillet, brown ground beef, onions, and garlic until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently. Drain. Add Mexican blend seasoning, salt, and pepper, mix well. Remove from heat.
Pour 1 can enchilada sauce in bottom of ungreased 13×9 glass baking dish. Arrange 5 tortillas in dish, overlapping slightly. Spoon beef mixture evenly over tortillas, sprinkle with half of the cheese; top with remaining 5 tortillas. Pour remaining can of enchilada sauce over top. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake at 375 for 20 to 25 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve with sour cream.
Wine Pairing Suggestions:
Cabernet Franc
Chianti
Grenache
Merlot
Sangiovese
Zinfandel
Serves 6
Prep time: 20 minutes; Total time: 45 minutes
*Derived from Pillsbury
Related articles
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- And All You Ask Is Why I’m Certain You’re Holding On (cantbelievehowstrangeitis.wordpress.com)